Prologue
I glanced out the taxi window as it pulled to a stop outside my new home - The Simpson University of Arts. More specifically, we were parked outside the ‘Alice Gardens’ residential building. It was one of the more expensive and elaborate set ups, which was saying quite a bit as the university itself was a very new, prestigious institution. Only the very rich were able to afford the fees here, unless, like me, you had won a scholarship.
My driver quickly climbed out of the car to fetch my luggage from the boot. I hesitated a moment more, taking in the large, white building in front of me. From my information package, I knew that this building had four floors. The ground floor housed a restaurant and cafeteria, as well as a games room and a small convenience store selling the essentials. You know, tampons, deodorant… chocolate. The first floor housed first year students. There were two students to a room and twenty rooms in total (ten on each side of the hallway). These rooms were air-conditioned and heated, with two king-size single beds, a fridge, microwave and sink. The bathrooms were small and shared between two rooms.
I bit my lip as I thought about my new roommate. I wasn’t the most outspoken or social person…Okay so I’m completely meek and reclusive. I worried that we wouldn’t get along. I was stuck with her until next year, when we could move up to the second or third floor to enjoy the solitude of single bedrooms. Gathering my courage, I opened the door and slowly slid out of the taxi, wincing as I left the wonderful car air-conditioning and was hit hard by the hot, dry desert heat.
I glared at the two large suitcases of luggage I’d brought with me and silently cursed my family. All around me, students were saying goodbye to their loved ones. Loved ones that were helping them carry their things! I sighed with disappointment and buried my hurt feelings. Not one of my eleven siblings had made the trip with me. Not one of my nine brothers were here to carry my things and tell me to behave or tell me that they’d miss me. I winced as I realised that they probably wouldn’t even notice my absence. Sure, Zane was out of the country on some special ops mission. And triplets, Vicky, Evan and Harvey, were all posted in Queensland at the Townsville Air Force base. Cooper was also in Townsville, working as a mechanic and his twin sister Charlie was in Cairns (also in Queensland) working as a nurse.
But Paul (a final-year Education student) and the younger triplets, Mike, Jake and Luke (Seniors in High school), all lived at home in Darwin (Northern Territory). It wouldn’t have taken them much effort to come with me. It was a weekend after all! And Logan, who actually worked here, in Alice Springs (as a Flying Doctor pilot) couldn’t even come and meet me at the airstrip! Mother had wanted to finish writing her latest book and my father…well, I don’t want to talk about it.
Sure, my Darwin family members had all apologised, saying that they could re-arrange their plans and try to come with me if I really wanted them to…but I had meekly whispered that it was ‘fine’ and given them a soft smile. They’d brushed the subject off with relief and left the room to do something more important.
I paid the taxi driver and cracked my knuckles, getting ready to haul my luggage up the front steps and then up a flight of stairs. However, before I could grasp the handles, my phone rang, giving me a welcome delay. I smiled as Cooper’s name flashed on the screen. Coop was the only one of my siblings, besides Zane (the eldest), that ever paid any real attention to me. He, like me, often tired of our large, boisterous family and sought out peace and quiet.
“Hi,” I murmured into the phone, biting my lip in annoyance at how soft and timid I sounded.
“Hey, Evie!” Cooper greeted me cheerfully, “Have you arrived yet? I’m sorry I couldn’t get time off to come with you.”
“That’s okay,” I whispered, knowing that if he could have been here, he would, “And yes, I’m here.”
“Great. How’s the place look? What’s your roommate like?” he asked, and I could hear the smile in his voice.
“Uh,” I mumbled, “I haven’t got there yet. I was just trying to work out how to carry my luggage up the stairs.”
There was an icy silence on the other end of the line.
“Evelyn,” he said finally, “Who else is there with you? Who made the trip from Darwin with you?”
“Er, I flew down. By myself,” I said quietly.
Cooper cursed quietly, before asking, “Why can’t Logan carry your things for you?”
“Um, he’s not here,” I said quickly, becoming uncomfortable, “He had a date.”
“A date,” Cooper repeated stiffly.
“Yes, well he offered to cancel, but I said not to bother. I mean it’s not really that big of a deal,” I whispered in a rush.
“Evie,” Cooper said with a sigh, “Why didn’t you ask him to postpone it? I know this is important to you and now you have to carry everything all by yourself. You have to start speaking up, sis.”
“I’m fine,” I said, trying to sound convincing. Cooper wasn’t fooled (my voice was kind of wobbly).
“Evie, I’ll call you back later tonight, once you’re settled in,” he said softly.
“Don’t tell them I’m upset,” I pleaded, “Please don’t yell at them.”
“I am going to talk to them E,” he growled slightly, “And they are all damn lucky that Zane is overseas.”
I winced, knowing how my protective older brother would react when informed.
“I have to go,” I whispered, trying not to cry.
“Okay,” he said softly, “Bye Evie. Don’t study too hard. Have some fun and make some friends. I love you.”
“Love you too,” I whispered.
I pushed my ugly, red-brown long hair out of my eyes and pulled at my sweaty, black T-shirt, thankful that I had worn cool shorts on this hot, summer afternoon. I glanced over at the building’s entrance in trepidation, as I tried to judge the distance. That was when I first saw him.
Sitting atop a picnic table, in the shade of a large, native tree, was a man. A big, scary man and he was staring right at me, watching me as he took a long drag from his cigarette. He stood up abruptly and stomped on the butt. My eyes widened at how tall and imposing he seemed from nearly three hundred metres away.
He strode toward me confidently in his dark-coloured jeans and tight, black singlet. He stopped directly in front of me and I stared at him in awe. My gaze started at the huge feet encased in black combat boots and travelled slowly up the entire length of his 6’8” muscular form to his shaved, dark-blond hair. Stone-grey eyes stared harshly back at me, a wicked scar on his eye-brow and a hard expression marring his strong face. His nose looked like it had been broken at least twice and his features were angular, strong and sharp.
His gaze flickered over the smattering of freckles on my nose, before he snatched my enrolment papers from the tight, anxious grip of my fingers. He glanced at my room number, before shoving them back at me and effortlessly picking up both large suitcases. He started walking toward the front doors of the building, without so much as a word or look in my direction. I hesitated briefly, before hurrying after the frightening man, jogging slightly to keep up with his long strides. Crowds of people parted for his large shape and I followed close behind, gratefully using him like a snow-plough to clear a pathway to my dorm.
He stopped outside my room and carefully placed the luggage beside the door. He knocked on the wood briefly and then left, again without looking at me or offering a ‘goodbye’ or a ‘nice to not meet you’. The door opened and a short, red-head eyed me curiously. She glanced over my shoulder at the man’s broad, retreating back, then down at my luggage. She shot me an incredulous look.
“Did Stone carry your luggage up?”
Stone, I remember thinking, What a terribly appropriate name?!
